On December 14, 1817, Mission San Rafael was established as an assistencia or “helper” mission to Mission Dolores in San Francisco. Because its original purpose was to care for the sick, it was named after St. Rafael the Archangel, the angel of bodily healing. Mission San Rafael Arcangel is part of the Saint Raphael parish in downtown San Rafael. It is a 1949 replica of the original Spanish mission, which was constructed in 1817 and was second-to-last in the California mission chain.

The Mission Chapel is open for visitors Monday-Friday, 6:30am-5:00pm, Saturday, 8:30am-5:00pm and Sunday, 9:00am-5:00pm; self-guided tours are available. Admission is free, donations are welcomed.